Second season of 'Fargo' likely won't cast as big a star as Billy Bob Thornton.

Second season of 'Fargo' likely won't cast as big a star as Billy Bob Thornton.

Photo: Matthias Clamer / FX

'Fargo' returning -- but will actors be back?

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Ah, geez, did you really think “Fargo” — which is up for 18 Emmys, including lead actor-miniseries nods for Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman — wouldn’t be returning to FX for a second season?

Then, you were wrong, dead wrong.

FX Networks CEO John Landgraf announced here Monday that the series from Noah Hawley, which is based on the Oscar-winning Coen Brothers movie, will be back with 10 episodes and Hawley as showrunner. It will deliver an all-new “true crime” story that will feature new characters and actors.

What won’t change, however is its trademark dark humor, murder and mayhem and that “Minnesota nice” flavor we all adored in the first season.

“We could not be more proud of Fargo,” said Landgraf. “Noah’s audacious, bordering on hubristic riff on my favorite Coen brothers film earned 18 Emmy nominations – the most for a single program in our history. Fargo was nothing short of breathtaking and we look forward to the next installment.”

The series also earned nominations for outstanding miniseries and for its supporting actress, Texas native Allison Tolman, who played a version of the movie’s Marge Gunderson character.

It’s a pity we probably won’t be seeing her again — nor Colin Hanks.

Landgraf agreed that it was “heartbreaking” not to see the cast return ” given how much I loved the actors.”

As for who’ll be in the new round, Landgraf indicated more relative unknowns, similar to Tolman, likely will be cast in lead roles, rather than a big name such as Thornton.

“I think we needed Billy Bob (to introduce the series) but we don’t need somebody next year. Frankly, I think we can do it with unknowns,” he added, “Allison Tolman brought as much to ‘Fargo’ as Billy Bob.”